Brighton BBOB suffered another defeat, with a depleted squad and just 11 regular players available. Despite battling hard throughout they were denied an arguably deserved point.
Again, BBOB started slowly and found themselves under constant pressure early on in the game. Debutant goalkeeper (usually an outfield player) Ryan Satterly tipped a good effort over the bar, but was unable to stop a headed goal from a corner after about 5 minutes of the game played.
After this early goal the game began to settle down and BBOB enjoyed their best spell of the game, creating some good chances from some decent passing play. Both Steve Maskell & Chris Thomas found themselves one on one with the AFC Brighton & Hove keeper, where he saved both times. Rich Houghton scuffed a shot wide from 12 yards, to hide his embarrassment at this appalling miss he feigned a foot injury and claimed he kicked an opponent’s foot!
BBOB's threat remained almost constant with new signing Julian Deans, playing at left back, delivering some promising free kicks, adding further pressure on the AFC defence.
AFC always seemed capable of the counter attack and nearly profited from this just before half time, when an unmarked forward placed a good header towards goal, which was again saved well by Satterly.
0-1 half time
AFC improved their performance early in the second half but were unable to capitalise on the possession they had, and against the run of play, BBOB caught AFC on the counter attack, a through ball from Mickey Maskell found Rich Houghton in space and one on one with the keeper. Just as Rich was about to strike the chasing defending took the ball off him only to place it in his own goal. 1-1
Almost immediately BBOB right back Keith Churchward brought down an AFC forward on the edge of the box, and the resulting free kick was perfectly placed in the top left hand corner of the goal leaving the BBOB keeper with no chance of saving it.
Around ten minutes later Steve Maskell was fouled on the left hand side of the AFC box, he took the free kick, and his perfect delivery found Mark Goodman's head in the six yard box and the back of the net! 2-2.
Just as before AFC Brighton & Hove re-took the lead from some good passing play allowing a midfielder to shoot from the edge of the BBOB area, Ryan Satterly could only deflect the shot into the path of the on-rushing AFC left-winger who placed it into an empty net. 2-3.
AFC's fourth goal came from yet another set piece, this time AFC's lively centre forward was initially fouled by centre back Paul Barton & and completely brought down by midfielder Chris Thomas. From the resulting free kick the same forward fired through the BBOB wall into the bottom left hand corner leaving the BBOB keeper rooted to the spot. 2-4
The remaining ten minutes were played in good spirits by BBOB despite the scoreline, Mickey Maskell picked up an injury and was replaced by the 'double' veteran Dick Horseman, who came on at left back, to make his first appearance for the first team this season, I think he got a touch?
